Visiting the Vermont Avenue Jetty

In 2007 there was an article in The Fisherman magazine about Al McReynolds,
and his world-record striped bass. The article stated that Al caught his world record striper on a Rebel
Windcheater plug. Other places I had read that Al caught his fish on a 5½ inch Rebel plug.
I knew that a Rebel Windcheater was 6½ inches long.

Al McReynolds

The magazine article also said that Al, every year on the anniversary of his record catch,
went to Atlantic City and visited the Vermont jetty where he caught his striper. To resolve the plug
length issue, I decided to go find Al and ask him.

Early in the morning of the anniversary of Al's catch, I went to the Vermont
jetty. I hung out there all day waiting for Al. He never showed. However, I talked to numerous
fishermen and others who came by the jetty that day. None knew for sure which plug Al had used.

Two different people explained to me how Al landed his striper. One said he climbed off
the jetty and landed it on the beach to the north of the jetty. The other person also said Al
climbed off the jetty, but landed it on the beach to the south side of the jetty.

Now I have two issues to resolve if I can find Al. Maybe next year...

Another view of the Vermont Avenue jetty in Atlantic City.
This jetty is just north of the Showboat Casino.

New World Record Striped Bass

A new world-record striped bass was caught on the night of
August 4, 2011 in Connecticut waters. The striper was boated by Greg Myerson and weighed in at 81.88 pounds, which
edges out the previous record of 78.8 pounds caught in 1982 by Al McReynolds.

Greg Myerson said he's sorry to take the striped bass world-record from Atlantic City,
but he is happy to have it in Westbrook, Connecticut.